The Feeling of Christmas

For the first time ever I was in California right up until December 21st. Usually I go back to Canada near the beginning of December. Before I left I was discussing with a couple of friends who had recently moved to Santa Cruz from Georgia how much it didn’t feel like Christmas. That day it was about 18 degrees C (64 degrees F), which may have had something to do with it. We also just weren’t feeling the Christmas spirit around town- we had collectively noticed there weren't as many Christmas decorations on the city streets, in the shops or on people’s houses.

On December 21st when I arrived in Vancouver it was chilly and definitely felt wintery (by Vancouver’s standards). My sister Brady lives right near City Hall and there were lights all over the lawn, as well as a huge tree covered in lights. On Tuesday, when Brady and I went out shopping and wandering around the city, it was bustling. People walking around with Santa hats, stores were all decked out with decorations, there was Christmas music playing everywhere. When we went into Barbara Jo’s Books to Cooks, a great little cookbook and food & wine book shop, they offered us some mulled wine to sip and sugar cookies to eat while we browsed. As we walked along the street Brady said “It barely feels like Christmas. There’s no snow and it's weird to not be at home with Mom and Dad, getting ready for the holidays.” My sister graduated from university earlier this year and is now working as a nurse. She will be starting her 4 day work week on Christmas Day and then will fly up to Smithers to join the rest of our family at our brother and sister-in-law’s house. Our brother Conor also works through Christmas at the mine and will be arriving home from camp the same day. We'll have our own, post-poned version of Christmas on the 30th, including gift opening and turkey dinner. Guaranteed that our sister-in-law Shawna will have the house decked out and plenty of food!

Will that feel like Christmas? Probably not really, but maybe it coud. What does Christmas feel like?

I think it has a lot to do with what you grow up with. When Brady said it didn’t feel like Christmas, it was likely because she was missing out on what she normally associates with this time of the year. Based on our experience of Christmas when we were younger, I'd say she was probably yearning for: hunting for a Christmas tree with Dad, having snow on the ground, horsedrawn sleigh rides, visiting with extended family, toboggan races, filling the cupboards with baking, nuts & candies, decorating the tree and the house, strings of lights, Elvis Christmas records, Christmas morning rituals, board games in the evenings…

Then as we grow up, the feeling of Christmas inevitably shifts, but hopefully isn't lost. What it really comes down to is being with family, to hang out, eat together, play games and share each other’s company, no matter what the day, the weather, how many decorations and what music is playing.

Happy Holidays!